cofty - or who otherwise requires a Working with Children Check clearance for their role...
But is anybody in the cult going to be required to obtain a Working with Children Check or will they continue to hide behind the claim that they don't work with children?
On 26 July 2011 the prosecution of the JW leaders and Watchtower commenced in the Magistrate's Court of Victoria, Australia, over the refusal of the religion to comply with the mandatory Working with Children (WWC) Check. Seven months the case lasted before the court. The JW leaders were facing potential prison sentences.
The net result of this action has been that all 7,000 elders and ministerial servants have been forced to comply with the WWC as well as several thousand pioneers and publishers who preach to or study with children.
Changes to the laws in Australia, which are currently underway, and the new recommendations of the ARC will force all elders and publishers in all congregations to report child abuse to the authorities and not to Watchtower (i.e. Bethel). In this both Watchtower and the governing body of Jehovah's Witnesses lose control and are relegated to being mere observers.
The power of veto of elder appointments in congregations will shift from the governing body and their defacto holy spirit to the government justice departments in that elders can only be apointed as elders with the approval of the justice departments via the issuing of a WWC card. No card no apointment. Further, any elder, ministerial servant or pioneer accused of any serious criminal offence will have their WWC card suspended until the case is heard. The elder or ministerial servant must be removed from their position within the congregation.